Earlier this month, Renesas Electronics Corp. consolidated its distribution channel in Asia-Pacific, China and Taiwan. The semiconductor company terminated its relationship with global distributor WPI Group and added regional distributor WT Microelectronics. The move is notable as late last year World Peace Group (WPG), WPI’s parent, made a controversial bid to acquire a 30 percent…
A supply chain practice called design registration has dogged the electronics channel for decades. Distributors support their component suppliers by getting their parts designed in to an OEM end-product. In order to be compensated for that effort, distributors must “register” that design with the supplier. Once the OEM device reaches production, the distributor may receive…
Three electronics brands — Apple, FitBit and Tile—are among companies that plan to move some or all of their production out of China, according to Coresight Research. The trend isn’t new, but a recent survey found consumers are souring on Chinese-made goods. Among U.S. shoppers, 47.8 percent said American retailers should source fewer products from…
For the moment, at least, it seems as though the course of the Covid-19 contagion is winding down. Even where its spread seems to be contained, the prospect of a second wave is very much on the minds of both public officials and private business leaders. So how does an organization plan ahead and position…
The onset of the coronavirus epidemic has accelerated the supply chain digital transformation that has languished on businesses’ “to-do” list for years. Covid-19 has exposed barriers to collaboration that most companies tolerate under normal circumstances. It’s fair to say the electronics supply chain currently aspires to “normal.” Even before Covid-19 hit, 92 percent of companies…
The global pandemic and shift to remote work continues to make its impact around the world. According to the Institute for Supply Management®, 75 percent of companies report supply chain disruptions and more than 80 percent believe that their organization will experience impact because of COVID-19 disruptions. However, there are ways procurement teams can mitigate…
U.S. manufacturing activity improved in May after falling to its lowest level in 11 years. The Institute for Supply Management’s factory index, the PMI, increased 1.6 percent in May to 43.1 from a 41.5 reading the prior month. The industry is still in contraction – any number below 50 indicates activity is shrinking – but…
It seems the only person who could beat Jeff Bezos to becoming the world’s first trillionaire would be someone with a crystal ball that can accurately predict the supply chain for the rest of 2020. The global crisis has everyone running, as demand forecasts, production schedules, and distribution planning have all gone out the window.…
U.S. purchasing and supply executives expect the nation’s economic downturn will continue for the rest of the year as the Covid-19 pandemic obscures forecasts in the manufacturing sector. Factory revenue is expected to drop 10.3 percent in 2020 — down 15.1 percent from December 2019 forecasts. The manufacturing and services sectors are both signaling contraction…
Supply chain services are getting more creative as the Covid-19 pandemic stresses global commerce and businesses prioritize the safety of their workforce. Online tools and services are becoming more popular with vendors offering free assistance and emphasizing their utility in times of crisis. Tradeshift, an open-source transaction platform, notes buyers, suppliers and their partners all…